espn.com Ali Contest
When it comes to Christmas, Page 2's Brian Murphy will take Thanksgiving. And when it comes to the new NFL, he'll take the old NFL. Which is why he thought he'd gone to heaven as he watched Brett Favre, Dorsey Levens and friends sliding joyfully around snow-covered Lambeau on Sunday.
MURPHY: WINTER WONDERLAND




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Dick Schaap was one of the giants of sports journalism, a ground-breaking writer, as well as a skilled TV host. But what colleagues David Halberstam and Ralph Wiley will remember most is a generous, empathetic man that almost everyone in a viciously competitive business loved, respected -- and will miss terribly.

Mystery Photo Sports Guy's Review
Have Pavel and Sergei been upstaged by a guy in a goofy bee costume? Page 2 fears that Anna Kournikova might have taken her affinity for the NHL too far, so we asked our readers to explain why she was hanging out with a mascot in this week's Mystery Photo.
If you're going to make a movie about the life of Muhammad Ali, you're going to need superb acting and direction. The Sports Guy says Will Smith and Michael Mann come close in "Ali," but the real-life legend of "The Greatest" was too much to try to duplicate.


As we continue our look back at the year in sports, we turn our attention to the dumbest moves of 2001. Check out Page 2's list of the 10 worst moves of the year, and then click here to offer your choice for the worst of the worst. Later this week, we'll run our readers' top 10, along with a poll to name the year's dumbest move.
10]  The Red Sox fire Jimy Williams
Maybe they're not cursed. Maybe they just don't know what they're doing.
9]  The BCS formula giving no credit for a team winning its conference championship
And thus we get Nebraska, which didn't even play in its conference title game, playing in the national title game.
8]  Bob Brenly brings back closer Byung-Hyun Kim for Game 5 of the World Series
How could any player possibly have recovered from what happened in Game 4 in less than 24 hours?
  • GET THE FULL LIST


NFL FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG O/U
Saturday Bucs 1½ Ravens 34
Sunday Rams 12½ Colts 58½
Sunday Eagles 5 Giants 34½
Sunday Jets 6½ Bills 37
COLLEGE FB FAVORITE LINE UNDERDOG O/U
Rose Bowl Miami 9½ Nebraska 55
Fiesta Bowl Colorado 3 Oregon 58
Orange Bowl Florida 16 Maryland 61
All Times ET -- Bold indicates home team
Complete Line


 
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MELODY OF 2001
Page 2's Chris Connelly combines two year-end lists into one column as he reviews the year in sports and the year in music.

WAXING POETIC
Borrowing a page from "'Twas the Night Before Christmas," Page 2's Dan Shanoff looks back at the year in sports.

TALE OF THE TAPE
Can one clubhouse hold John Rocker and Carl Everett? Bakay compares two of baseball's most volatile fellas in his Tale of the Tape.

THE SPORTS GUY
If you're shopping for DVDs this holiday season, you'll want to check out the Sports Guy's detailed list of the best and worst.
If your favorite writer isn't on Page 2 today, click here to check out our full roster of columnists.


We bring back a classic match for Christmas. It's Hermie, the elf and wannabe dentist from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," and Washington coach Rick Neuheisel, who insists he doesn't want to be the coach at Notre Dame. Page 2 has received 14 requests for this match. Browse our archives of past pairs or click here to submit a future duo for Page 2.

Best of SportsCenter 2001
7:30 p.m., ESPN
A look back at the year that was.
 
Top 10 games of 2001
9 p.m., ESPN
Think there might be a World Series game or two?
 
• Complete TV Listings


If you missed Page 2 over the last week, check out our back issues:
• Fri., Dec. 21: "Ali" review
• Thurs., Dec. 20: Misfit athletes
• Wed., Dec. 19: Oddest couples
• Tues., Dec. 18: Getting a mulligan
• Mon., Dec. 17: Bottled up
Other featured content:
• The Island of Misfit Athletes
• 10 Burning Questions with Dan Rather
• The oddest couples ever
• Sportoon: Great gift ideas
Christmas Edition, Dec. 24-25, 2001
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